Greenwich: a target of identity theft and organized credit card fraud.

Are you aware that one of the most common crimes committed in Greenwich is identity theft using credit cards, debit/ATM cards and wire fraud? Why? The nature of Greenwich (affluent, with luxury retailers and financial institutions) makes it a specific target for organized theft rings and financial crimes.

On Friday November 21 around 1pm, Greenwich Police arrested three Chinese men from Queens for attempting to fraudulently purchase multiple iPhones on Greenwich Avenue using stolen credit cards. Xiaobing Cheng, age 42, Jinchai Lin, age 36, and Youqiang Lei, age 31 were part of a Chinese Organized Criminal Group. The three men were released on a bond of $250,000 each.

They utilized multiple credit/debit cards via a tap-to-pay method using digital wallets, linked to the Personal Identities of multiple victims. This same group was in Greenwich weeks prior using the same tactics at various high end retail and jewelry stores. iPhones and luxury goods such as jewelry are favored targets due to their high resale value and ease of liquidation on the black market.

As the criminals entered a nearby getaway vehicle, police stopped them. Officers found multiple cards and phones. The arrested individuals were likely operating as runners or mules, executing purchases planned by high-level organizers who commit the initial data theft. If you think these arrests will put an end to this, think again. These mules will simply be replaced by other mules.

Protect yourself: Vigilance: Don't click on suspicious texts (smishing) or emails (phishing) that try to steal your card data and prompt you to give up your One-Time-Password (OTP). Device Security: Use strong authentication e.g. face ID or PIN when using a mobile wallet. Monitoring: Set real time transaction alerts for a low threshold amount with your bank or credit card company.

Between the Lines: Greenwich: Where the petty theft is conducted by global organized crime syndicates.

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